FSU starts spring practice with focus on building toward another national title

Because of that, he has stressed the same message throughout the offseason. The Seminoles, he said, are not defending their 2013 national championship.

Instead, they will attempt to again be the aggressors.

Spring practice began on Wednesday afternoon. Fisher and every FSU player that spoke to the media during the day mentioned not being "complacent" at least once.

"Last year is last year. Learn from what we did last year," Fisher said. "Don't revel in it because we have to go do it again and become our own successful team this year. Learn from our mistakes but also learn from our successes and remember how you had success and why you had success in order to repeat that.

"Hopefully we can take that into this season."

The Seminoles have 15 starters back this spring, but there were some noticeable absences at Wednesday's practice. Key seniors from last year's team – like linebacker Telvin Smith and defensive back Terrence Brooks — watched on from the sidelines, a not-so-gentle reminder of the gaps FSU has to fill, especially on defense.

"We lost players, but that makes us even more hungry because we want to fight and show people that we still have depth," defensive end Mario Edwards said. "Freshman year, we kept telling them we had depth at all the positions. We have great players still, even though we lost great playmakers like Timmy [Jernigan] and on the offensive side of the ball, [Kelvin Benjamin]. We have people who can step up and make those same type of plays."

So during practice, experienced players like Edwards Jr., and defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and P.J. Williams made a clear effort to embrace their newfound roles as leaders.

"I look forward to this all year. This is the start of the season for us," Williams said. "It's like full-go, so we're about to get back into it. We're about to get better. This is just the [start of the] road to accomplishing our goals."

• Ira Denson is no longer with the team. A freshman offensive lineman, Denson was charged Tuesday with petit theft and fraud from an incident in December. Fisher said that Denson has not been with the team since then and that there is no chance for him to return to the program.

• FSU QB Jameis Winston is expected to miss Saturday's practice because of a baseball game. It is the only practice Winston will miss this spring, according to Fisher.

• Starting CB Ronald Darby was limited in practice with an unspecified injury. Fisher said he is expected to be back at full speed by next week.

• Sophomore Giorgio Newberry has switched positions, again. Newberry (6-6, 287) moved from DE to TE this past season, and has now switched back over to defense. However, he will likely play in the interior of the defense instead of on the edge.

• Incoming freshman LB Kain Daub was watching practice. The four-star recruit from Jacksonville Sandalwood enrolled at FSU this January but will not be with the team through the spring as he tries to become eligible after the NCAA Clearinghouse had an issue with a class he took in high school.